Obituary: PARKER, RICHARD

Richard LeRoy Parker1928 ~ 2012Richard LeRoy Parker, a devoted and loving husband, father and gifted musician, died peacefully on October 12, 2012, surrounded by his family after a short illness. He was 84.Born June 7, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dick was the eldest son of LeRoy Virgil Parker and Elsie Stevenson Parker. Dick's father died while he was still young and very early Dick became the caretaker and protector of his family a role he would perform with great pride and dedication throughout his life.Dick graduated from East High School and the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of lieutenant.Dick also served a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission to Denmark, where he first met an 11-year-old Connie Thomasina Meyer Hansen, the girl who would later become his wife. Dick and Connie married in 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple and built their life together in Salt Lake City, raising five children in a house filled with laughter and music. A genuinely happy person, Dick was an understanding and compassionate husband, father, and grandfather who always put the needs of others ahead of himself. His shoes are too big to fill, and he will be greatly missed. Dick was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Connie, his wife of 54 years; five children, Rodney (Lynn), Diane (David) Sagers, Cathy (Michael) Campbell, James, Shirlene (Chris) Campbell; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Also surviving are Dick's brothers, Stanley C. Parker and David A. Parker.Funeral services will be held Thursday October 18 at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, in Sandy, Utah. Burial will be in the Sunset Gardens Cemetery. Friends and family may call on Wednesday, October 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m, prior to Thursday's service. Messages and tributes for the family may be posted at www.larkincares.com.